Switch



H. A. STEEN.

SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 5. 19H)` l 1,309,822. PzltvntcdJuIy l5, 1912).

2 SHEETS-SHEET I- H. A. STEEN.

swnca. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 6| |910.

1,309,822, Patented July 15, ISHS).

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

@Wag/W g5@ ,g W.

UNITED sTATEs PATENT oFEIoE.

HALFDAN A. STEEN, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSllfiirlf,V BY MESNEASSIGNMENTS, T ALLIS-CHALMERS MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A. CORPORATION OFDELAWARE.

SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 15, 1919.

or circuit breakers and especiaiiy to auto-l matically operated switchesto be used in systems of remote control of motors or oth-ei` translatingdevices.

The object of my invention is to provide a simplel and inexpensiveswitch of durable construction. The invention embodies novel featurescontributing to the effective operation of switches and including anovel type of operating magnet for the switch.

The various novel features of my inventiolr will be described in thespecification and particularly set forth in the appended claims.

This invention is illustrated on the acceuipanying sheets of drawings inwhich Figure .i is a side elevation of a switch embodying iny invention,the switch as here shown being in ciosed position;

Figi? is a front elevation of saine;

Fig. 3 is adetaii sectionai view of a: socket tor the reception of knifeblade contacts of a blow-out magnet used in connection with the switch;and,

Fig 4L is a side eievation of the saine switch as shown in Fig. if, theswitch being in open position.

Mounted upon any suitable base l0, is the ifi-anic il oinagneticmaterial of a magnet i2.V This traine, which has three iegs 13, Mc,sedile, is secured to the base by bolts 16, and has a projection i7which acts as a stop. 'Bie magnet i12* is provided with an actuatwinding18' which surrounds the middle ieg or core il: and is adapted to attracta' itch actuating member 19. This switch actuating member comprises twomembers 2G and 2i, each of which is pivotaiiy connected to tbe frame il,as vindicated at 22. and 1proviced with armatures 23 and 24respectively, these individual armatures or armature portions beinglintegrai with the i'uenibers on which they are mounted', as in dicatedin the drawings.,A The part 20 of the ntch actuating member is providedwith a gin :25, which slides in s siot 26 of the other f1.1 of theactuating member. The part Q0 of the actuating member also hasaprojection 27, which is adapted to engage the projection 17 to limitthe'inovexnent of said part. The part 2i of the actuating memberlikewise has a' projection Q71, which is adapted to engage theprojection 17 to limit the movement ot" said part. The two parts 2G,Ql'are relatively movable and when in open position with 'theprojections 27, 271, against the stop projection i?, the pin is slightlyspaced from the upper end of the slot 26., This switch actuating memberis provided with these two reiativeiy movable parts so that only acomparatively small or decreased amount of current will be required todraw the armatures '23 and 2e of said switch actuating meinberintocontact with their corre spending engaging faces or surfaces 28 and 29respectively of the eiectromagnet. By means ot this arrangement the airgap between the armature 23 and its corresponding attracting; member isnurterialig7 decreased from that ot' the orcinary arrangenientand asteady and gradual puii off the switch actuating nieinber is thusobtained. This is ai )arent from the drawings where it is seen yhatafter part 2O has been drawn toward he iixed ci* the magnet a siightamount the pin of said part engages the part 2l giving this part aninitiai startj decreasing its gap and inairing the puii ci? the magnetsteady graduai. portion of the members 2i adjacent the armature 1portion23 oi the member 2G is preiferabiy oit such formation as to cor-.ie intosubstantiai engage nient throughout with the rear tace of they armatureportiony when both armature portions are attracted positioii.-..as indicated in l? effect of which. in this iattei1 'condition oit the rts, is,to complete a. series inegi circa t through the polar portion 28 of d ccore, armature, portion 25%,

and'7 to extent, the side pieces of the member 20 surrounding; theadjacent oortion oiftiie member 2l, and me er 2l? armature. portion 24.and @oder portion 29 of the i it wiii be apparent that there may 'be apiuraiity oi galos in this magnetic circuit and that the eiiect oimovement or" the armature portion, 23 toward its cooperative pois?portion "of the core is to decrease the reinctance of the seriesmagnetic circuit and thus increase the attractive torce exerted oneaciiff 'armature portion. c

Mounted in the .lower :portion or" the ac.y

tuating member 19 is the main brush contact 29a, preferably laminated,and adapted to engage a stationary contact 30, which 1s located at theend of support 31', the latter being secured to the base 1() by boltsClamped into contact with the brush 29a 1s a conductor 33, which isconnected to a .stud 3i, the latter forming one of the ternunals of theswitch. Located at the other end of the switch actuating member 19 is anauxiliary contact 35, which is adapted to engage, with a wiping action,a relatively stationary contact member 36. This contact member issecured to a spring pressed mem ber 36u, which is pivotally mounted, asshown at 37. rIhe main contacts are arranged horizontally, breakingvertically, and the auxiliary contacts are arranged vertically, breakinghorizontally. These contacts are placed at opposite ends of the switchactuating member 19, with the auxiliary contacts above'the main contactsin order to prevent any damage, which might occur to the main contactsdue to. arcs formed when the auxiliary contacts are separated.

In order to destroy arcs formed at the auxiliary contacts when thecircuit is broken, a. blowout magnet 38 is employed. The coil 4of thismagnet is wound ona spool 39- and its ends terminate in knife bladecontacts 40 and il respectively, which are adapted to Ltit in contactsockets 42 and 42a, as shown 1n cross section in Fig. 3. The contactsockets are suitably Inpunted, the socket 42a being integral with orconnected to a support 45, to which the contact carrying member 3Ga ispivoted, and which is secured to the 'base 10 by a bolt 46, and thesocket 42 being mounted separately or insulated from the support 45 andbeing suitably connected to the line terminal. 47. By using aconstruction such as this, the blow-out magnet is efficiently supportedin operative position and can-be removed rapidly at any time simply bydrawing out the same with its knife blade contacts from the contactsockets 42 and 42u. It is thus seen that no screw connections are usedand that the blowout magnet can be removed rapidly without the use ofany instruments. This blow-out magnet is provided as usual With poles 50and 51, which are so located that the iux between them is directly inthe path of arcs formed when the circuit through the auxiliary contactsis broken.

The switch circuits will now be traced. i

Current enters at the plus terminal 47, and passes through contactsocket 42, knife blade 4:0, blow-out coil, knife blade 41, and contactsocket 42a. At this point, the circuit divides, one branch includingbolt 46, conductor 4:8, bolt 32, support 31, contact 30,

I ,brush 29?, conductor 33, and the minus terminal 34. The other branchincludes conductor 49, contact carrying member 36, auxiliary contactmembers 36 and 35, part 21 of the actuating member 19, conductor33 andminus terminal 34.

IVhile, strictly speaking, each of the portions 23 and 24 constitutes anarmatureas to itscoperative 'polar portion of the core, it will beapparent that these armature portions along 'with the connection ofmagnetic materia-l between the same may quite accurately bevconsidere'das the armature of the 'electromagnetas a whole, that is, consideringthe armature as the movable part which is actuated to attracted positionthrough magnetic effects produced therein and completes the normalmagnetic circuit of the electromagnet.

It is evident that several modifications of the precise form andarrangement herein shown and described may be made and in my claims Iintend to cover. the invention broadly.

Vhat Iclaim as new is:

1. In combination, a switch, and an electromagnet for actuating saidswitch, said electroma et comprising coperative fixed and mova le parts,the movable part of said electromagnet comprising two pivotally mountedand relatively movable armature portionsmovable about the same axis andengageable with separate spaced polar portions of the fixed part ofsaidelectromagnet, and Said spaced polar portions being in series in thenormal magnetic circuit of said electromagnet.

2. In combination in an electromagnetically-actuated switch, anoperating electromagnet comprising lixed and movable parts of magneticmaterial, said fixed part comprising polar portions magnetically inseries in the normal magnetic circuit of said electromagnet, and saidmovable part comprising a plurality of pivotally mounted and relativelymovable armature portions of magnetic material coperative with saidpolar portions of said fixed part and magnetically in series with eachother in the normal magnetic circuit of said magnet, each of saidarmature portions being movable about its axis to attracted position,and one of said armature portions being more readily actuatedtoattracted position than a second' armature portion and assisting inthe actuation of said second armature portion to attracted position bydecreasing the reluctance of the magnetic circuit ot said electromagnet.

3.V In a switch, a magnetic element and a Winding therefor, a movableelement coniprising two pivotally mounted and relatively movable partseach having a portion of magnetic material forming an armature normallyspaced from and cooperative with a polar portion of said magneticelement, said armature portions in attracted position being magneticallyin series and in unattracted position being spaced diiferentdistancesfrom the coperative polar portions of said magnetic element, and thearmature portion nearest its cooperative polar portion being first movedto attracted position, and a connection between said relatively movablearmature portions mechanically independent of said magnetic elementwhereby the armature portion nearest its coperative polar portionassists the other armature portion in its movement to attractedposition.

4. In a switch, a magnetic element and a winding therefor, said magneticelement having tivo polar portions, and a movable element comprising tworelatively movable parts each having a portion of magnetic materialforming an armature coperative with one of said polar portions, saidarmature portionsbeing magnetically in series Whenl in engagement withthe coperative polar portions, and said relatively movable parts of saidmovable element being pivotally mounted on a common axis and beingmovable in the same plane of movement.

5. In a switch, relatively movable contacts, a magnet comprising frameand armature of magnetic material, said frame including two spaced polarportions, anenergizing winding'for said magnet, said armature beingmovable and associated with said relatively movable contacts for causingsame to function, said armature having polar portions normally separatedfrom and movable to a. position directly in series with said 'polarportions of said frame to magnetically bridge same, and means formounting said armature with one of its said polar portions at a distancefrom its corresponding frame polar portion different from thatseparating another of its said polar portions from its correspondingframe polar portion, said mounting permitting the exercise of theresulting magnetic bias tending to cause the engagementof the lessspaced polary portions prior to that of the more separated polarportions.

6. In an electromagnetically operated device, an electromagnet comprisinframe and armature, 'an energizing Win ing for said magnet, said framehaving a plurality of spaced nolar portions, saidlarmature comprisingtwo polar portions mounted for relative angular movement about a commonaxis and for engagement directly in series with said frame polarportions, and means'for mounting said armature with its said polarportion nearest said axis spaced from its corresponding frame polarportion a distance less than that separating the remaining correspondingarmature and frame polar portions, said mounting pernntting :theexercise of the resulting magnetic bias armature portions each of whichis movable about its axis ot' movement into engagement with one of thepolar portions of said core on energization of said magnet, said armature portions being connected through magnetic material, and being inseries in the normal magnetic circuit of said electromagnet, and one ofsaid armature portions being more readily attracted to its cooperativepolar portion of the core on energization of said magnet 'whereby theattraction ofthe other armature portion of its cooperative polar portionof the core is assisted through a decrease in thereluctance of themagnetic circuit of said magnet.

8. In an electromagnetically-actuated controllin device, anelectromagnet comprising a coreghaving a plurality oi polar portionsmagnetically inseries in the normal magnetic circuit of the magnet, anenergizing Winding for said core, and a plurality of relatively movablearmature portions each of which is angularly movable about its axis ofmovement into engagement With one of the polar portions ciz said core onenergization ofsaid magnet, magnetic material outside of said coreconnecting said armature portions magnetically in series in the normalmagnetic circuit of said electromagnet whereby approach of one of saidarmature portions toward its cooperative polar por- ,tion on the corehas the effect of varying the attractive torce exerted on the otherarmature portion through variation of the reluctance of the magneticcircuit of the electromagnet. v

9. In an electromagnetically actuated circuit-controlling device, anoperating electromagnet comprising a core having a plurality of polarportions magnetically in series in the normal magnetic circuit of thecore, and a plurality or" pivoted, relatively movable armature portionseach of which coperates with one of the polar portions of said core, apair of contacts 'the circuit-controlling operation of which is effectedby one of said armature portions, and a connection between said armatureportions external of said core and of good magnetic conductivity and inseries with said armature portions in the normal magnetic circuit ofsaid eleetromagnet whereby approach of one of said armature portionstoward its cooperative polar porlll) Correction in Letters PatentNo.1,3()9'822.,

tion on the core causes an increase in the attractive force exerted onthe other armature portion.

10. In combination, a magnet having spaced polar portions, an armaturehaving a polar face of constant form during its cycle of operation andadapted to coperate with one of saidl'spaced vpolar portions and anotherpolar face adapted to cooperate with another of said spaced polarportions, said polar faces being magnetically in series and carryingsubstantially the entire eiective flux produced by said magnet when thearmature is in fully attracted position, and means for causing one ofsaid polar faces to engage its coperating polar portion before the otherpolar face engages its cooperating polar portion.

11. In combination, a magnet having spaced polar portions, an armaturehaving a polar face of constant form during its cycle of operation forcooperating with one of said polar portions and another polar face forcooperating with another of said polar [ann] portions, and means forcausing one of said polar faces to engage its coperating polar portionbefore the other polar face engages its co ratin polar portion.

12. n comllnn'ation, a magnet having spaced polar portions, an armaturehaving a polar face of constant form during its cycle of operation forcoperating with one of said polar portions and another polar face forcoperating with another of said polar portions, eaoh polar face havingsubstantially the same area as its coperatlng polar portion, and meansfor causing one of said polar faces to engage its cooperating polarportion before the other polar face engages its co rating polar portion.

Milwaukee, isconsm, August 26, 1910.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature, in the presence of twowitnesses.

HALFDAN A. STEEN.

lt is hereby certied'that in LettersPatent No.-1,309,822, granted July15, 1919-, upon the application of Halfdan A. Steen, of Milvvauke,Wisconsin, for` an im-- provement-in l"Switchesj an error appears intheprinted specification requiring p correction as followsz-Page 3,.li11e87, clain 7, for the word of readto; and

that the said Letters PatentA be'v redn'with thiscorrection therein thatthe same may conform tothev record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed lgth'day of August, A. D., 1919.

J. T. NEWTON, Commissioner of Patente.

